Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or organization to the public to influence their perception. Its goal is to build and maintain a positive relationship and reputation between an organization and its various publics, which can include customers, employees, investors, and the media. This is achieved through strategic communication, which can involve sharing positive news, responding to crises, and supporting marketing efforts.

Key aspects of public relations

• Reputation management: PR professionals are responsible for shaping the public image of their client or organization and protecting it from negative events.
• Strategic communication: PR involves planning and implementing communication strategies to achieve specific organizational goals, such as launching a new product or building brand awareness.
• Media relations: A significant part of PR involves building relationships with journalists and other media outlets to get positive coverage for the organization.
• Crisis management: PR helps organizations navigate and minimize the impact of negative events through strategic communication.

Types of public relations

• Media relations: Building relationships with the media and providing them with newsworthy content.
• Investor relations: Communicating with investors, analysts, and the media about a company's financial performance.
• Community relations: Fostering good relationships with the local community and addressing social issues.
• Government relations: Representing the organization's interests to government officials.
• Customer relations: Building and maintaining relationships with customers through feedback and communication.
• Marketing communications: Supporting marketing efforts by generating buzz and awareness for products and services.
• Internal communications: Counseling employees and managing internal communication about company policies and actions.

How PR differs from publicity

• PR is controlled: Public relations is an internal, strategic effort to manage how information is disseminated.
• Publicity is not controlled: Publicity is an external event where information is shared by third parties (like media outlets), and the organization has less control over the message.